Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-07-02
Parents, Their Children and Their Re-
ciprocal Obligation.
BY Prof j. l.. Champ, Parkersburg, w.
Va.
[From ga Pioneer press.l

Va.
From the Pioneer Press.
The family may be defined as q
nation in miniature, since it may be
said to possess all of the elements,
and to conform TO all of the neces
sary primary conditions Of nation.
And, we may assume that the aggre-
gate of its positive moral forces if
such it has, results from its surplus of
correct indiuiduat training over that
which is vicious. A family, commu-
nifty or people founded upon high
moral and intellectual principles, will
progress or deteriorate just in pro-
portion as these powers are cultivat-
ed or neglected in those who are being
trained as custodians of its further
destiny.
Moral progress differs from scien-
tific progress, in that it is not de-
pendent upon the discovery of new
truths and laws, but upon the culti-
walton and broadening of powers al.
ready possessed, hence a failure to
comply with these conditions relative
to oneself or TO ones children must
be a moral crime.
The highest development OF these
powers, it seems to us, are contin-
gent upon two things: Chronology
and geography-time and place
youth and home for of the elements,
however varied, which combined give
that force of character which enti-
ties its possessor to the proud appel
lation--a great people--none are so
important as those assimilated in
youth and around the parental fire.
side, when,
''The mind impresslble and soft with
ease.
Imbibes and uses what 1t feels and Sees"
An intelligent parent will not vio-
late any physical law in supplying
the material needs of his child. In
deed this is not only fact among
enlightened people, but in all condi-
tions of society, whether savage or
civilized this truth obtains. The
one study of all these seems to be,
how to supply proper food and how
to vary this to suit the systemic
conditions of the child. No one
could convince these that food were
unnecessary, or that its quality
would not effect the physical devel-
opment of the child. They class the
fetid, the stale, and the innusricious
foods as the less violent poisons
which it would be criminal, knowing
| ly to permit them to take into the sys-
tenn. But reverse the picture. How
many pay any attention whatever
| to the literature read by these same
| children? How many even supply
| them with unwholesome mental food
while others suffer them to drink
at the death dealing fountains which
exude from the fertile brain If the
graduate debauche, with at least APP
parent indifference, little realizing
that they are destroying all that is
manly or womanly in them.
The physical man is a mere nom
entity compared with that greater
man-the mind, the immaterial--
the motive power of our being, that
which beauties life, and gives pc
entiality to character, and the in
furious physical effect of unwhole-
some diet is relatively of little mo-
ment when contrasted with improp-
err and vicious mental diet. "Out of
the heart" says the inspired writer,
proceeds evil thoughts, blasphemy,
murder, &c
If the question were put to many
christian mother or father, "What
do your daughters or your sons
read 2" the few probably could give
an intelligent answer, the many an
evasive one, and the evasivcness
would be an admission that their
readings are not what they should be.
1t is a fact that large percentage
of our boys are allowed to cram
their heads full of cheap stories,